Women empowerment is central to inclusive economic growth. Mission Shakti, Government of Odisha has built a strong network of women SHGs across the state, creating a solid foundation for financial inclusion and livelihoods.

The session “From Potential to Power: Women Shaping Tomorrow”, scheduled at 1430 hrs on 28 January 2026 at Mayfair World Cup Village, Rourkela, will focus on transitioning women from participation to leadership and from livelihoods to sustainable enterprises. Anchored by Mission Shakti, the session will explore pathways for women-led economic transformation.

CII, through its Centres of Excellence on Women Leadership, Skills, and Employment & Livelihood, will support this initiative by showcasing scalable models and best practices, offering opportunities for stakeholder collaboration.

Skill development is critical to building a future-ready workforce, especially as AI and digital technologies reshape industry requirements.

The session “From Skills to Success: Preparing a Future-Ready Workforce” will focus on addressing skill gaps across MSMEs and manufacturing through AI literacy, digital operations, and advanced manufacturing skills.

The discussion will emphasise industry–academia collaboration, blended learning models and alignment with government skilling schemes, while deliberating on measurable outcomes such as employability, productivity gains and ROI.

Energy is a critical enabler of industrial growth and sustainable development. With a growing focus on innovation, efficiency and clean technologies, the sector is undergoing rapid transformation.

The session “Powering Sustainable Growth: Innovation, Efficiency & Future Energy Systems” will highlight emerging energy solutions, policy frameworks and investment opportunities shaping the future energy landscape.

Industry leaders and policymakers will deliberate on strategies to strengthen energy security and accelerate the transition to efficient, future-ready energy systems.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a vital role in driving entrepreneurship, employment generation and economic growth.

The session “Entrepreneurship to Enterprise: Scaling Small Businesses with Big Vision” (1215–1315 hrs) will focus on enabling MSMEs to transition from early-stage entrepreneurship to scalable, growth-oriented enterprises.

The discussion will explore strategies for business expansion, innovation, market access, capacity building and resilience, offering opportunities for partnerships and long-term growth.